Demonstration kit



Nov. 29, 1949 Filed Jan. 10, 1947 J. F. HORTON, JR., ET AL DEMONSTRAT ION KI T 4 Sheets-Sheet l cmu F, HoRToNR. BY ROBERT S. LEE

ATTRWEY Nov. 29, 1949 J. F. HORTQN, JR., ET Al. 2,489,779

. 4 DEMONSTRATIQN KIT Filed Jan. 1o, 1947 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 La J4- 3L -l i.

4e Leaf. l

39 o '45 +o 4o 'm' M l INVENToR. 34 32 oom* F. HORTON,\)R.

BY RoeaRT S. LEE

ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1949 v J. F. HoRToN, JR.,. ETAL 2,489,779

DEMoNsTRATIoN KT Filed Jan. 10, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. donn F V\ORTQN,RA BY ROBERT S- LEE TORNEY Nov. Z9, 1949V J. F. HoR'roN, JR'., ETAL 2,489,779

nEMoNsTRATIoN KIT Filed-"Jaml 1o, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 25 '15 27 Ijg;

John F. Horn-omge. BY RQBERT S. Les

ATTORNE Y Patented Nov. 29, 1949 2,489,779 DEMoNs'rnA'rioN KIT John F. Horton, Jr.,

Lee, Jenkintown,

Pennsylvania Sprnglield,` and Robert S; Pa.,V assignors to Colonial Motors, Incl, Philadelphia,

Pa., a corporation of` Application January I0, 1947il VSerial No.'721,266

(Cl. 35i-53) 8 Claims. 1. The present invention relates generally to a relatively small portable unit which is particularlyy designed to aidy andassist in the arrangement of=a variety of units in aI room and is moreA particularly intended for' such-use in connection with planning a kitchen andl purchasing the several pieces oi equipment whichI customarily go into a kitchen. It will be understood, of course, that this-'same unit may be employed for the planning and organizing of other rooms and sp-aces.

Oneof the aims of the present invention is toiprovide a unit of the' type described which isI inexpensive to manufacture, which is efcient and practicable in use and which presents a neat and attractive appearance.

Another object of the presentk inventionv is to provide a portable unit of the class described which may be manufactured of commonly available plastic sheet material and which presents a compact unit containing all oi the necessary elements.`

A- further object of the present invention is to provide' al unit of the type described which is in the` forni of al casing normally having disposed` within it all of the operative elements, and: also having a removable andi reversibleI lid or cover Whiclf-i carries, normallyon its innerfa'ce, a` set of rails adjustable tothe scale and dimensions offtheroor'n, the unit being further characterized by! the provision ofA means whereby the lid or cover maybe removed'irom th'e housing and employed with the adjust-able raill exposed for manipulation and-for the distribution within the selected' space of a Series of tiles which con# stitute miniature representations of the pieces of. equipment.

A- stilll further objectoi the invention isl thev provisionin the casing oi a removable compartmented tray for accommodating the miniature representations of the equipment in the form or suitably shaped tiles, said tray being designed an'd constructed to` facilitate ready'` removal of' the tiles-trom their respective compartments.

Another object of the present invention is to" provide two pairsof area-defining relatively adjustabley rails, each oi which is preferably in the form of a plurality of verticallyy spaced parallel) elements united at their ends, one pair ofl such railsbeing fixed in position uponthe supporting platform and the other being so-interfitted thereas tol be p'ositiona-llyy movable upon said` platform'` whilerestrained from separation therefrom.

Anotl'ierr` object or the present invention is'to' 2 provide:relatvely'simple means for maintaining the rails rmlyv in: adjusted position.

Other objects' of thev present invention Willi` become apparent to persons skilled in the: art, the invention' beingy illustrated in the accompany.'- ing drawings and described in the following specication; it' being understood, however,. that these' do not constitute a limitation uponV the;- present.y invention and arefmerelyillustrative and that variationsof the embodiments shown herein; will be apparent to persons skilled in the art;

In.V the drawings,l

Figure 1 is a perspective viewor one formin of. the invention Figure 2 is an elevational View thereof;.

Figure 3 is an end View of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view` similar to Figuref 3i' withV a lid or cover reversed and mounted: on: the: housing or casing;

Figure 5 is a face View orl theunitY in the condi:- tion shown in Figurel and taken on line 5,-52 of. Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a more orless` diagrammatic illus:- tration of the' manner in which the adjustablerailsmay be employed;

Figure 7 is a face'view of the unit with the. lid or cover removed and showing the disposition!` of the tile traywithin the casing;V

Figure 8 shows some of the tiles that may beiA employed;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a free endV ofi one of the xed rails and showing the adjustable'lv clin;

Mgure 10 is a; sectional view on line of Figure 6';

Figure 11 is ani end View of one end of one of? the xed rails;

Figure 12lis a perspective view ofthe adjustable clip;

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on line'L I31-I3of Figure 6;

Figure' 14 is a sectional View taken on line'- Ill--It' of Figure 6;

Figure 15 is a sectional view on line I5-l5 of Figure 2;

Figure 16 isV a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the cover or lid;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view oi a portion of the tile tray, particularly illustrating' the manner in which the tiles are removed from the tray;

Figure 18 is alsectional viewV on line l8-l8 of.v

Figure is an exploded view showing the housing tile tray and cover;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a modied form of the invention;

Figure 22 shows the unit of Figure 21 in its open condition;

Figure 23 shows an end view of open position;

Figure 24 shows the unit in its open position with the removable scale rails mounted thereon and ready for use;

Figure 25 is a fragmentary sectional view om line 25-25 of Figure 24;

Figure 26 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 23-23 of Figure 24;

Figure 27 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 2'l-2l' of Figure 24;

Figure 28 is a plan view of the scaled rails in their collapsed position; and

Figure 29 shows the rails ready to be assembled with the casing.

In the planning of the disposition of the numerous items of equipment that go into a modern kitchen, it is desirable that the home owner should visualize the arrangement of the equipment in advance of its purchase and installation. For this purpose the present invention includes a plurality of small units preferably in the form of flat tiles which are shaped to correspond to the outer iloor dimensions of each of the pieces of equipment. If desired, each of these tiles could also bear on its face a design which would correspond to the general appearance of the particular piece of equipment.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention a board or similar platform is provided upon which the adjustable rails are mounted, the rails bearing scale indicia, so that the rails may be adjusted to enclose within them the oor space of the kitchen under construction to scale. In addition, the unit of the present invention includes means for resiliently clamping the rails in their relatively adjusted position so as to minimize the possibility of displacement of the rails from their adjusted position during the demonstration planning when the tiles are being moved about Within the space enclosed by the rails.

The present invention provides a portable unit which houses all the above elements and which is employed by the equipment salesman to demonstrate to the prespective purchaser the several possible arrangements of the several types of equipment, in the several sizes available, it being understood that with this unit the tiles may be shifted about from one position to another until the desired arrangement is obtained.

In one form of the present invention a casing is provided having a removable cover or lid, the adjustable rails being so mounted on one face of the cover that they may be normally disposed within the casing when the same is closed by its cover. In use the cover or lid is removed from the casing and reversed thereon, thus exposing the rails t-o viewV and permitting their manipulation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the casing comprises a main body portion 33 having a flat bottom and rounded side walls, the edges of which latter may be nished off by the crimped U-shaped metal strips 3|-3L The casing also includes opposite end walls 32-32 which are respectively fixed to the body portion in any desired manner, as by -angle elements 33. The end walls are preferably rabbeted as shown at 34 to provide a shoulder rest for the corresponding edges of the cover the unit in its or lid 35. The body 30 may be formed of any suitable material, preferably plastic sheet material.

The cover or lid 35, which is also made of plastic or other suitable sheet material, is nished on three edges thereof by marginally extending U-shaped strips 36, similar to the strips 3I-3I on the marginal edges of the side walls of the casing body 30. The fourth edge of the cover 35 is marginally tted with a U-shaped finishing strip 31 having a longitudinally extending flange 38. When the cover is placed on the casing in its normal position its flanged edge 38 is inserted under one edge 3| of the casing body 30 while its opposite edge is disposed flush with the opposite edge 3| of the casing body. The remaining two edges of the lid rest on the rabbeted shoulders 734-34 of the casing end walls. Pivoted latches 39 carried by one edge 3| of the casing serve to engage the adjacent edge of the lid to secure the latter in closing position upon the casing body 30.

A pair of straps 43, extend in parallel relation along the bottom of the casing body 30, these straps being secured in position by securing their opposite upturned ends lll-4| to the end Walls 32 of the casing. Angle supports 42 are fixed to the straps 40, and serve to engage the tile tray 43 in the manner shown in Figure 18 so as to removably retain the tray in position within the casing.

The tray 43 is shaped as shown in Figure 2O and is provided with a downwardly dependent f outer wall 44 having a flange 45 which rests on the bottom of the casing body 30. The wall 44 forms,

with the side wall 46 of the adjacent compartment, a channel within which is frictionally retained the upstanding portions of the supports 42. in the casing.

vThe tray 43 is shaped to provide a plurality of different sized compartments to receive the different tiles 4l, which latter are miniature reproductions, on the same scale as the scale oi the rails, of the several pieces of equipment. The tiles may bear, if desired, suitable pictorial representations of various pieces of equipment and may also bear catalogue numbers specifishown in dotted lines in Figure 17, so that it can be picked up by the other hand.

As has been stated earlier, vthe cover or lid 35 l may 'be held in rm assembly on the casing as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 15 to close the casing, but when the apparatus is to be used for the purpose intended the latches 39 are moved to open position, whereupon the cover 35 may be removed from the casing body and replaced thereon in inverted position, the tray 43 with its contained tiles 4l having rst been removed from the interior of the casing and set aside within reach for subsequent use.

In such inverted position of the cover 35, the

rails, which are mounted upon the inner face of the cover, become available for desired manipulation. In its preferred form, the unit of the The tray is thus -held firmly in position withpresent invention employs one pair of rails 50-50 xedly secured to the cover in right-angular relation, and a second pair of rails |-5I relatively movable with respect to the xed rails.

Each of the rails consists of a plurality of vertically spaced, parallel elements, preferably in the form of iiat strips, the topmost strip of each rail bearing suitable scale indicia. The fixed rails 50-50 each composed of the at strips 56, are respectively disposed adjacent a pair of adjacent edges of the cover and so extend approximately at right angles to each other. Figure 13 shows the manner in which the two rails 50-50 are connected to each other and to the lid 35. Itwill be seen that the Superposed strips 56 of one rail 50 serve as spacers for the strips 56 of the second rail 5U, the ends of all these interdigitated strips being secured together for permanent assembly upon the lid by means of a headed bolt 52 having a nut or cap 53. The outer ends of each of the xed rails 50 are secured to the cover or lid 35 as shown in Figure 10, a headed bolt 52a being employed in cooperation with a nut 53a for this purpose.

However, in the case oi the outer end of each rail 50, spacers 54 are interposed between the several strips thereof, and, if desired, a tubular spacer 55 may be interposed between the cover 35 and the nut or cap 53a in embracing relation with respect to the shank of the bolt 52a.

The movable and adjustable rails 5I5I, each o f which is composed of the flat strips 51, are in substantially all respects identical with the fixed rails 5|l--50 and are assembled in substantially the same manner exceptthat they are not immovably anchored to the cover. Moreover, before the assembly of the strips which constitute the rails 5i--5i is completed they are iirst interdigitated with respect to the strips of the xed rails 5I-5I and their free ends are then secured together. Thus, the movable rails `il- 5| which are captured by the fixed rails and held in assembly therewith, are nevertheless still free to be moved about to any desired position upon the cover or lid 35 so as to define a space between the four rails of any desired dimension.

Thus, as shown in Figure 14, the strips of one of the movable rails 5l--5l serve as spacers for the strips of the other of said movable rails, the adjoining ends of both oi said rails being secured together by means of a headed bolt 58, the shank of which is threaded into the lowermost strip 51 of the assembled rails. At their free ends, the leaves or strips of each of the movable rails 5 l 5| are held in assembly by the same type of device as that shown in Figure 14, except that spacers 59 are employed between the strips, these spacers being in the form of washers or the like embracing the shank of the screw bolt 58 and disposed between the leaves, as shown most clearly in Figure 16.

It will now be understood that the rails 5|-5I may be moved with reference to the fixed rails 50-50 so as to define any desired space all as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 6. The indicia on the topmost leaf in each of the rails gives the dimensions of the space which is dened or formed by the four rails, and facilitates lining up the two sets of rails to deiine any desired space having opposite parallel sides.

When the movable rails 5I--5I are adjusted to positions Vthat correspond to the dimensions of the room, it is desirable that the rails remain in this position. For this purpose a clip 60 is employed, which construction is best illustrated in Figure l2 of the drawings. Each of the fixed rails 50-50 is slidably fitted with one of these clips 60, the opposite sides BI-BI of which frictionally engage the opposite side edges of the rail upon which the clip is mounted. The opposite side portions (il-6I of each clip are provided at their lower edges with inturned flanges 62 which respectively engage the lower face of the iixed rail 50, while the top portion 63 of the clip, which overlies the upper face of the rail, is provided at its rear end with a recess 64 to accommodate the nut 53 oi the bolt 52. The forward end of the upper portion 63 of the clip is provided with an extension 65 which presses rmly against the upper face of the rail 50. From the foregoing it Will be apparent that when the movable rails are moved to any desired adjusted position relatively to the xed rails, the clips 60 may be shifted along their associated xed rails into positions wherein the forwardly extending tongues 65 thereof overlie the upper surfaces of the positionally adjusted movable rails, to thereby secure the interdigitated rails rmly together and so minimize the possibility o the rails accidentally being moved out of their proper relative position.

With the rails in their relatively adjusted p0- sition, the salesman proceeds to demonstrate to the prospective purchaser the several possible arrangements of the several pieces of equipment by the manipulation of the several tiles i1 until a suitable arrangement is obtained. The notations of the catalogue numbers appearing on the face of the tiles are then recorded.

Figures 21 to 29, inclusive, show another form of the invention which departs from the form thus far described in that the casing is made of two hinged parts and the two sets of rails are preassembled and removably mounted so that they may be collapsed and stored Within the casing when not in use; and may be mounted on top of the casing when desired and be otherwise manipulated in the saine manner as thus far described. This modied arrangement thus reduces substantially in half the size the casing required for a planning layout of the size illustrated in the arrangement of Figures 1 to 20.

In this modied arrangement, the easing 1S,

provided with handles 1I, is made of two halves hinged together as shown at 12. When opened v to the position shown in Figures 22 and 24 each haii` of the casing is provided With a fixed cover plate 13, these cover plates lying in the same plane and serving conjointly as a working platform for manipulating the tiles 41 in the same manner as in the previous form of the invention.

As in the previous form of the invention, onel pair oi rails 15, pivoted to each other as at 16, constitutes the xed pair of rails, each of these rails being fitted with a slidable clip @il as in the previously described arrangement. The other pair of rails 11 constitutingr the movable set, are pivotally connected together as at 18, and are interfitted with the rails 15, the free ends of the strips forming each of these movable rails being held together by means of bolts or the like.

Thus the two pairs oi interdigitated rails constitute a unitary assembly, which may be col- -Y lapsed into compact form as shown in Figure 28.

Each half of the casing 1li is preferably pro-Y vided with slidable drawers Bil which may be adapted to receive and house the collapsed rails 15 and 11 and also the apparatus.

tiles employed in this For the purpose of facilitating and ready detachment of the assembled rails relatively to their working platform, the rails and casing are provided with detachable fastening devices. Thus, the casing l@ is provided with female fastening elements 8l at each of three corners, these being respectively adapted to quickdetachably receive cooperating male fastening elements e2 suitably tted upon the lower extremities of the pivot bolt i5 and the bolts 83 which are employed to secure together the outer free extremities of the elements which constitute each of the fixed rails 75-75.

It will be apparent that when it is desired to employ the apparatus shown in Figures 21 to 29 inclusive, the casing is opened into its condition shown in Figure 22, whereupon the rails are op-` eratively secured thereto by the simple expedient of interengaging the snap-fastening elements 8| and 82 to secure the rails lE-'I in xed position upon the expanded work platform. Thereafter the apparatus would be operative as in the case of the previously described modification.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various other changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles of the invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. In combination: a portmanteau adapted to be opened to present a iiat surface of substantial area, two pairs of scaled rails disposed upon said flat surface, each rail being composed. of a nlurality of vertically spaced, fiat members ing their corresponding ends secured together, one of said pair of rails being fixed to said surface in right angular relation and the other pair of raiis being connected together1 at their corresponding ends with the spaced members thereof interleaved with those of said xed pair of rails whereby said second pair of rails is held captive by the fixed pair of rails while permitting relative ment between said pairs of rails, and a siidable clip carried by each fixed rail, said clip having a forwardly extending tongue adapted to overlie the interleaved fixed and movable zone of their crossing to press ther. gether and so prevent their accidental dis ment from adjusted position, said clip being shiftable to and from said crossing zone.

2. In a device of the class described, two pairs of scale-bearing rails, each rail comprising a plurality of vertically spaced, flat members, each pair of said rails being connected together at borresponding ends thereof, the ends of the members of each rail serving as spacers for the members of the connected rail and one rail of each pair being interleaved with one rail of the other pair, means at the outer end of each rail uniting the ends of the members in permanent assembly, whereby one pair of rails is held captive by the other pair, said pairs thereby having relative movement to adjust the space enclosed by said rails to any desired dimensions, one of said pairs of rails being immovably fixed upon a supporting platform therefor and the other pair of said rails being form relatively to said xed pair of rails.

3. In a device of the class described, two pairs of scale-bearing rails, each rail comprising a plurality of vertically spaced, nat members, each pair of said rails being connected together at the mounting movable about said platcorresponding ends thereof, the ends of the members of each rail serving spacers for the members of the connected rail and one rail of each pair being interleaved with one rail of the other pair, means at the outer end of each rail uniting the ends marient assembly, whereby one pair held captive by the other pair, said having relative movement to adjust the space enclosed by said rails to any desired dimensions, and slidable means associated positionally adjusted relation, said means being shiftable into and other pair of rails.

4. In a device of the class described, two pairs of scale-bearing rails, each rail comprising a plurality of vertically-spaced flat members, each pair of said rails being connected together at corresponding ends thereof, the ends of the members ci each rail members of the co pair being interleaved pair, means at the the ends of the me with one uter end of rail of the other each rail uniting other pair, said pairs thereby movement to adjust the space Teile rality or vertically spaced, parallel elements, each pair of said rails being connected together at corresponding ends thereof, the ends of the elel ments of each railr serving elements of the connected each pair being interleaved other pair, means at the outer end of each rail uniting the ends of the elements thereof in permanent assembly, one said pairs of rails being immovably xed upon said platrorm in substantially ri lit-angular relation and the other pair of said rails being held captive by said xed pair for movement freely about the surface of said platform to positionally adjust the rails to denne an of sired dimension, and means carried by one pair of rails and adjustable relatively to the other air to press the interleaved elements together in the zone of their crossing whereby to preve t accidental displacement of the rails from 1heir adjusted to each other, said being shiftable to and from said crossing zone.

6. In a device of the class form, two pairs of scaembeez upon said platform rality of vertice pair of corresponding ments of each .i elements of the connected rail one rail of each being inteleaved with rail of the other pair, means at the outer end of each rail uniting the ends of the elements thereof in Ypermanent assembly. whereby i ie of rails is held bv the other ir, said pairs of rails thereby just the space dimension, leaved rails as .spacers for the rail and one rail of described, a platg rails mounted rising a plualel elements, each cof, the

for the 'dosed by said rails to a desired upon said platform with one O'f said of the members in per' of rails is' pairs therebyi with one pair of' rails operative to secure the interleaved rails in out of engagement with thev serving as spacers for the l niected rail, one rail of each o mbers in permanent assembly, whereby one pair of rails is held captive by thel having relative of engagement with one rail of the position relatively connected together at? ends of the eles relative movement to ad- .l

mea .s for securing said interpairs of rails immovable and the other of said' pairs of rails movable relatively to said platform.

7. In a device of the class described, two pairs of scale-bearing rails, each rail comprising a plurality of vertically spaced parallel elements, each pair of said rails being connected together at corresponding ends thereof, the ends ofthe elements of each rail serving as spacers for the elements of the connected rail and one rail of each pair being interleaved with one rail of the other pair, means at the outer end of each rail uniting the ends of the elements thereof in permarient assembly. whereby one pair of rails is held captive by the other pair, said pairs of rails thereby having relative movement to adjust the space enclosed by said rails to a desired dimension, a portmanteau adapted to be opened to provide a substantially flat surface to which one pair of said rails may be immovably xed and upon which the other pair of rails is freely movable relatively to said fixed pair of rails.

8. In a device of the class described, two pairs of rails, each rail comprising a plurality of vertlcally spaced, parallel elements, each pair of said rails being pivotally connected together at corresponding ends thereof, the corresponding ends of the elements of each rail serving as spacers for the connected rail and one rail of each pair being interleaved with one rail of the other pair, means at the outer end of each rail uniting the l0 ends of the elements thereof, each pair of rails thus being held captive by the other pair and providing for relative movement of said rails to adjust the space enclosed by the rails to a desired dimension, a platform for supporting said rails in operative position, and coacting means carried by the platform and one pair of said rails for securing said latter rails in fixed position upon said platform while permitting the other pair of rails to be freely movable relatively to said xed rails.

JOHN F. HORTON, Ja.

ROBERT S. LEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 503,934 Braastad Aug. 22, 1893 1,508,280 Kay Sept. 9, 1924 2,029,662 Kernen Feb. 4, 1936 2,127,047 Pinney Aug. 16, 1938 2,263,255 West Nov. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 488,822 Great Britain July 14, 1938 

